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The Basra prison incident is a controversial event involving British troops in Basra, Iraq. On 19 September 2005, two undercover British Special Air Service soldiers disguised in Arab civilian garments and headdresses opened fire on Iraqi police officers after having been stopped at a roadblock. They were arrested and taken to the Al Jameat police station.

UK armed forces later stormed the prison with six tanks and breached the walls, freeing the two soldiers. A dozen other prisoners are thought to have fled in the confusion.^[1] An angry mob fought the operation, setting two armoured vehicles ablaze with petrol bombs.

The Ministry of Defence initially denied storming the prison.^[2] In later statements, it is explained that the soldiers would have likely been killed, and that the police force had been infiltrated by illegal militia groups.^[3]

The Governor of the province, Muhammad al-Waili, denounced the event as "barbaric, savage and irresponsible".

On 25 December 2006, British troops again raided the Al Jameat station, killing seven gunmen and freeing 127 prisoners being held by Shia militias there. They then blew up the building.^[4]

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